Indoor golf practicing device



R. H. ELKINS INDOOR GOLF PRACTICING DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1943 INVENT By fio/afl 47/0/75 ATT NEY Patented May 15, 1945 UNH TED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDOOR GOLF PRACTICING DEVICE Roland H. Elkins, Orange City, Iowa Application February 10, 1943, Serial No. 475,382

6 Claims.

An object of my invention is to provide a practicing device which can be used indoors and which will allow for driving practice, by including certain members so arranged that an accurately driven golf ball will register a correspondingly greater impact,'and wherein inaccurately driven balls will pass with a lesser momentum to the measuring device, and thereby indicating such inaccuracy.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for angularly positioning the ball receiving member so that accurate angular driving can be tested and developed.

A further object of my invention is to provide an impact registering device which is readily visible from the driving platform, and which can be released to zero position from the platform.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable tee arrangement so that the ball can be teed at varying heights. I

A further object of my invention is to provide the above objects in a simple construction requiring very few parts.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the arrangement comprising my invention,

Figure 2 is a detail of the teeing arrangement,

Figure 3 is a detail of the impact registering arrangement,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3. I

Figure 5 is a plan view taken substantially along the lines 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the tripping mechanism.

My invention contemplates the provision of a certain device wherein balls driven into the same will correspondingly register their momentum and at the same time indicate whether the ball is accurately driven or not.

I have used the character In to designate a substantially long hollow cone having the forward enlarged end II and the reduced end l2. The cone is pivotally cradled at l3 to a bracket l4, which bracket includes a jack thread extension [5 which is received within the jack housing "3, which is attached to a base ll. The screw member can be turned by means of the bars l8. At-

tached beneath the cone I0 is a plate 19 having a series of angles marked thereon at 2|, and pivotally and loosely attached at 22 to the plate I9 is the weighted indicating pointer 23.

Spaced from the end ll of the cone is a platform 24 having the side walls 25 and 260.. Attached between side supports 26 of the platform is a rod 21 which is received within the slots 28, which slots are included in the portions 29. The portions 29, of which there are two, extend into the arms 30 which are welded or otherwise attached to either side of the cone and adjacent the opening ll.

Pivotally attached about the rod 3| is the member 32 which extends into the teeing portion 33 including a recess 34 for receiving a golf ball 35 therein, the rod 3| being attached across the braces 26. A further rod or pin 36 pivotally receives a member 31 which includes an angled portion 38 which snugly engages within the portion 39 of the member 32, the portion 38 continuing into the downwardly extending portion 40, which is attached at 41 to a tension spring 42 which is attached at 43 to a wire 44 which is attached at 45 to a tapered stud 46, which stud terminates in the shank 41 and the turning handle 48.

A square nut which is split into two sections is indicated by the character 49 which nut is threadably engaged with the tapered stud 46. The split nut 49 is also received within the square housing 50. The platform 24 includes an opening at 5| to allow elevation or lowering of the teeing device.

Attached at 52 toward the smaller end of the cone i0 is a vertical square post 53 having a series of equally spaced notches 54, and slidably engaged with the post 53 is the hollow square indicating member 55, which is preferably painted an out- I standing color. The member 55 includes the ears 56 to which is pivoted at 51 the trigger 58 to which is attached the spring 59, which spring'59 is also attached to the square member 55 (see Fig. 3) the member 58 including the inner locking portion 6!! and the outer curved portion 8 l. Attached to the top of the post 53 is a brace 62 to which its pivotally attached at 63 the trigger release member 54, which is attached to the spring 65, which spring is attached to a further vertical bracket 66. Attached to the bracket 66 is a pin 61 which passes through the bracket 66 leaving a portion of the pin at either side. Pivoted at 68 to the support 69 which is attached to the bracket is the downwardly extending lever 10 which is attached at H to the tension spring 12 which is attached at 13 at the bottom side of the cone l0.

Attached to the lever II! is a buffer or impact member 14 which is made of leather, rubber, or

any other similar impact material, either of pronounced resiliency, or if desired of lesser resiliency, and the member 14 is adapted to fit slightly within the end opening l2, or immediately adjacent thereto.

Pivoted at 15 to the lever are a pair of levers 16 having lower sloping cam surfaces 11 which abut against the pins 61, and the levers 16 include the extended portions 18 which underlie the sides of the registering member 55.

Attached at 19 to the member 64. is a wire 80v which is received through the loops 8|, which are attached at the top of the cone, the wire 80 terminating in the loop 82.

Now that the structure of my device has been explained, I will explain the operation thereof.

The golf ball 35 is placed in the cavity 34-; which ball is on the direct center line of thecone ID, the ball is then driven into the cone ID, the driver of course striving to hit the ball as accurately toward the center of the opening I2- as possible and with as. much. force as. possible. A ball driven with sufiicient iorce and accuracy will. impact against themember 7.4, (see Fig. 3) tending to forc the member 14, outwardly against the tension of; the spring 12, and during such.

actionthe lever it will pivot at 6,3. andwill carry the further levers 1.6- in' the same direction. At the same time the slopes ll. bearing against, the pins 67 will tend to elevatethe levers liabout, their pivotal points 75., which inturn cause, the portions 18 of the levers to force the indicating member 55, upwardly along the posts; 53. The trigger 58 will ride upwardly with the member 55.1with the extremity 68,- traveling along the;

notches, 54-, but assoon as the member 55 stopsits upward motion, the portion 60 will engage intothe notches by virtue of the downward weight of themember 55 and the spring 59, so that the member; 55, will remain in its upper position, as shown by the dotted structure in Fig. 3.

The member 55, is released by pulling on the loop- 82. which draws the-wire 8,0, which inturn carries the; member against the curved portion BI and forces. the portion 60. out of engagement with the notches 54: causing the member 5.5 to

drop; back upon the portions 18. The spring 65- then. draws the member 64. back to its. normal position when the loop. 32. is released; The

greater the accuracy of the driven ball 35,. the greater; will be the, effect. against the, cam. H to.

impel the lever portions 18. u'pwardly, thereby th fqwin the: member 55; to higher positions.

A, ball less accurately driven will first strike the; inside; of the cone H1 at, a point nearer the,

opening; H and; as a result will reach the mem her '14. witha. great deal. of its force being spent andicorrespondingly raising the member 5.5. to a lessen elevation, and. by virtueof this c ons tr,u c tion, the driver: can; always see-the accuracy and.

force of: the drive.

It will be noted that the arms 30 and 29, are

pivoted; directly beneath the ball, so that anyangular positioning ofthe cone l0 will raise the center line of the. cone to the desired angle'and still maintain. the center line of the cone coincident with the ball.

The cone can be elevated to'desired; angular position by turning the. handles IS-Which causesv the jack; screw in the housing; IE, to be elevated, thereby-- raising the cone which will pivot about the pin 21; The indicating member2 3 will correspondingly by gravity indicate the angler to whichthe-cone is elevated; by means. or the'an l markings-2|;

The tee member 33 can be elevated to any desired position by use of the structure shown more clearly in Fig. 2. For instance if it is desired to elevate the ball 35 to a higher position, the handle 48 is grasped and pulled outwardly from the platform which carries the split nut 49 outwardly and at the same time the portion 38 will be forced upwardly, forcing the member 33 upwardly also which will elevate the ball still further. The handle 48 is then'turned, and due to the tapered stud 46 engaging with the split nut 49, the turning action will spread the split nut apart and lock the arrangement. For lowering the ball 35, the handle 48 is allowed to be pulled inwardly by the spring tension, and the locking effect is accomplished in the same manner and in this way the ball can be positioned at the same: elevation as the platform or at any other elevation. The spring tension 42 maintains a spring action against the tee member 33 so that when the ball 35 is struck, the member 33 will resiliently pass downwardly, and in this manner there isno. injury to the club. After striking the face M, the balls will roll down the cone adjacent.

to. the platform.

It. will now be seen that I have provided all of the advantages set forth in the objects of my invention with other advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes. may be made in the construction and arrangement. of the parts of my inventionwithout departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is. my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or'use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim. as. my invention:

1. An indoor golf practicing device comprising a substantially horizontally positioned lengthened hollow cone, an impact registeringgauge attached atthesmaller end of said cone whereby golf balls driven: into. said cone and against said registering gauge will register the accuracy thereof, said registering gauge including a striking member including an impacting face, a lever. attached.

to said impacting face, a pair of cam levers having lower; sloping surfaces attached to said lever, a. vertical post having notches, an indicating member slidably. engaged on said vertical post, a support, pins attached to said support adapted to abut on said sloping cam surfaces, whereby impact of a ball against said impact face will cause a. cam action to be: imparted againstsaid camlevlers to drive said indicating member upwarclly. v

2; Anindoor golf practicing device. comprising a substantially horizontally. positioned lengthened hollow cone, an impact registering gauge attached at the smaller end of; said cone whereby golfrballs driven intosaid. cone and against said registering gauge will register the accuracy thereof, said registering gauge including a. strikmg -member including an impacting face, a lever attached to-said impacting face; a pair of cam levers having: lower slopingsurfaoes attached to said lever, a vertical posthaving notches; an indicating; member slidably engaged on said vertical; post, a support, pins attached tosaid support adapted to abut on said sloping cam surfaces, whereby impact-of a ballagainst saidim pactface will. cause a cam action to be imparted against said; cam levers to drive said indicating member. upwardly. meansfor, retaining, Said indieating member in any upwardfposition, and'remotely disposed actuating means for releasing the same. 4

3. An indoor golf practicing device comprising a substantially horizontally positioned lengthened hollow cone, an impact registering gauge attached at the smaller end of said cone whereby golf balls driven into said cone and against said registering gauge will register the accuracy thereof, said registering gauge including a striking member including an impacting face, a lever attached to said impacting face, a pair of cam levers having lower sloping surfaces attached to said lever, a vertical post having notches, an indicating member slidably engaged on said vertical post; a support, pins attached to said support adapted to abut on said sloping cam surfaces, whereby impact of a ball against said impact face will cause a cam action to be imparted against said cam levers to drive said indicating member upwardly, means for retaining said indicating member in any upward position, and remotely disposed actuating means for releasing the same, including a ratchet trigger for engaging said notches, a lever for applying pressure against said trigger for releasing the same from said notches.

4. An indoor golf practicing device comprising a substantially horizontally positioned lengthened hollow cone, an impact registering gauge attached at the smaller end of said cone whereby golf balls driven into said cone and against said registering gauge will register the accuracy thereof, means for positioning said cone at desired angles, including a platform positioned at the larger endv of said cone, said cone including arms pivotally attached to said platform, a jack member attached beneath said cone for raising the same for said angular positioning, a teeing device for supporting said golf balls before being driven attached to said platform, said teeing device including a ball supporting strap, a further angle strap member bearing against said supporting strap, a resilient spring attached at the lower end of said angle strap member to resiliently support said ball supporting strap.

5. An indoor golf practicing device comprising a substantially horizontally positioned lengthened hollow cone, an impact registering gauge attached at the smaller end of said cone whereby golf balls driven into said cone and against said registering gauge will register the accuracy thereof, means for positioning said cone at desired angles, including a platform positioned at the larger end of said cone, said cone including arms pivotally attached to said platform, a jack member attached beneath said cone for raising the same for 'said angular positioning, a teeing device for supporting said golf balls before being driven attached to said platform, said teeing device including a ball supporting strap, a further angle strap member bearing against said supporting strap, a resilient spring attached at the lower end of said angle strap member to resilient- 1y support said ball supporting strap, said ball supporting strap being pivotally attached to the platform, said angle strap being pivotally attached to the platform, means for raising or lowering said ball supporting strap including a wire attached to said spring, whereby forcible movement of said wire outwardly will force said angle strap member against said ball supporting member to raise the latter.

6. An indoor golf practicing device comprising a substantially horizontally positioned lengthened hollow cone, an impact registering gauge attached at the smaller end of said cone whereby golf balls driven into said cone and against said registering gauge will register the accuracy thereof, means for positioning said cone at desired angles, including a platform positioned at the larger end of said cone, said cone including arms pivotally attached to said platform, a jack member attached beneath said cone for raising the same for said angular positioning, a teeing device for supporting said golf balls before being driven attached to said platform, said teeing device including a ball supporting strap, a further angle strap member bearing against said supporting strap, a resilient spring attached at the lower end of said angle strap member to resiliently support said ball supporting strap, said ball supporting strap being pivotally attached to the platform, said angle strap being pivotally attached to the platform, means for raising or lowering said ball supporting strap including a wire attached to said spring, whereby forcible movement of said wire outwardly will force said angle strap member against said ball supporting member to raise the latter, means for locking said wire in selected position including a tapered stud, a split nut engaged with said stud, said nut being square, a square housing receiving said nut, a handle attached to said tapered stud whereby turning of said handle will spread said nut against said housing to lock the same.

ROLAND H. ELKINS. 

